LINGLE – The Lingle Pool has been a local hub for summer fun since 1968. This season, the pool is ramping up activities in honor of its 50th year in operation, including a Superhero Costume Contest, movie and more on July 21.

Originating, in part, as a “cooperative project for outdoor recreation” through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, via the Wyoming Recreation Commission, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, Department of the Interior, and Town of Lingle, the pool is a main focal point for the “Small But Proud” municipality.

“I think it’s something for kids to do and for parents to do with their kids,” Manager Brandi Hill said Saturday. “On days like today, when it’s 100 degrees, you can come here and cool off. And I think swimming is a very important skill to have.”

In her five summers at the helm of the facility, Hill and other town staff and community members have worked to improve the pool and add activities with hopes to increase attendance.

“Swimming lessons are now held the whole entire season instead of just two weeks,” Hill said. “We’ve brought back the slide, upgraded all pool furniture this year and umbrellas. We got a really cool pool vacuum that drives itself … we now offer water aerobics in the morning and evening.”

In addition, the pool house has received a new coat of paint inside and out, and staff present a free weekly ‘Movie in the Park’ event on a projector screen at the bandshell. Clients from Diversified Services, Inc. also utilize the pool. There are plans to include individuals getting care with North Platte Physical Therapy.

In recognition of the support the pool has received from the community, Hill said giving back is important to the staff there.

“We held a big fundraiser for Alzheimer’s awareness (in June), and we’re currently doing a campaign through the month of July for Waggin’ Tails Animal Shelter,” she said. “If you bring in a donation for Waggin’ Tails on Sundays, you swim for free.

“We get a lot of support from different people. We think it’s important to pay it forward,” Hill said.

Pool sponsors include Lingle Mini Storage, Torrington Livestock Markets, Points West Community Bank, Jerry White, Wunder Appliance Repair, Caylor & Genz Equipment, Jen and Ul Riley, North Hills Baptist Church, Community Presbyterian Church, Fastenal, Schlagel Manufacturing, Goshen County Economic Development Corporation and Aspen Insurance.

On Saturday, July 21, at approximately 6 p.m., residents can attend a Superhero Costume Contest at the pool, featuring a free showing of, “The Incredibles.” There will be bounce houses, photo booth accessories, snow cones, cotton candy, funnel cakes and lemonade.

The public is invited to attend.

Other upcoming activities throughout the season will be: July 11-14, free swim all sessions for Town of Lingle Centennial Celebration; July 12, Movie in the Park, “The Sandlot” at dark; July 27, classic Movie in the Park, “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids”; Aug. 10, Movie in the Park, “The Benchwarmers”; Aug. 17, Movie in the Park,
“Wonder”.

In the future, Hill said she’d love to see a building built around the pool – in order to cover the facility and keep it open year-round – and power it with solar or wind energy.

“We need to do some upgrades before that can happen, but I’ve been researching and looking for grants,” she explained. “We are doing a ‘Fill-the-Bucket’ fundraiser now for new flooring in the pool house, handicap chairlifts … we’re happy to help people, but it would make their lives a lot easier.”

The pool will also install new handrails and another slide, received through a grant, following this season.

Saturday, around 30 individuals took advantage of the 50-year summer staple – six of which Hill estimated were from Lingle, and the rest from outside communities.

“This has been the average so far this year,” she said, in part crediting recent high temperatures. “I just think it’s important people come and utilize the pool so we don’t lose it.”

For more information and updates on weather-related closures, follow the Lingle Pool on Facebook.